Automatic magazine-firearm



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-@Sheet 1.

A. BURGESS. v ,AUTOMATIC MAGAZINE PIRBARM.

Patented Aug. 31, 1.897.

s sheetswshet 2. y

(No Model.)

A.. BURGBSS. AUTOMATIQMAQAZINB FIREARM.

Patented Ag. 313-1897.` i

.m a 0 M n@ s VIA? (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. i

A. BURGBSS. AUTOMATIC MAGIQLZINB PIRBARM.

N0.589,118. I PatentedAugysL1897- UNITED Srnrns "ArtNr muoia.

ANDREWT BURGESS, OF BUFFALO, NE\V YORK.

AUTOMATIC MAGAZINE1FIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,118, dated August 31, 1897.

. Application filed May 20,1892. Serial No. 433,692. (No model.)

Be it known that I, ANDREW lunonss, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magazine-Gn ns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to magazine-guns.

Thev object of the invention is to improve the automatic operative mechanism by which the gun after ring is loaded by power stored up from the recoil; also to so construct the gun that it may be made automatic or n-ot, as desirable; also to so construct the automatic gun mechanism that the gun may be fired when the breech is not positively locked, but is held by a resistance proportioned to `the shock of recoil; also to so construct the automatically-operating breech that the resistanc-e to its openingmay be made Variable; also to improve the working' connections between the handle and breech mechanism;

f also to improve the magazine or cartridgeholder and means for feeding cartridges to the gun; also a safety-stop.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section about centrally of the stock, breech and mechanism, and magazine of a gun, breech closed, about on line Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a top plan, partly broken away, of that part of the gun near the bolt. Fig. 3 is a cross-section just in rear of the cartridges in the magazine, as at x, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a cross-section about at y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the cartridge feed-lever. Fig. 6 is a plan diagram of the front of the bolt and cartridgelever. Fig. 7 is a moditied view of so much of the operating-spring and bolt-connecting mechanism as is necessary to the understanding of my invention. Fig. 8I is a view generally similar to Fig. 1, showing the breech open. Fig. 9 is a broken section of the magazine-shields and detail of belt and means for attaching. Fig. l0 is across-section of the magazine-belt with a cartridge thereon. Fig. 11 is a detail section of the bolt and immediate connections in locked position. Fig. 12 is a detail of hammer and safety-catch.V

A indicates the barrel, B the stock, and C the butt-plate, bearing the usual relation to each other..

The breech is closed by a reciprocating bolt l, which is curved in the direction of its length and moves lengthwise ina correspondingly curved way or housing, and is therefore inclosed in the stock or housing in both the open and the closed position ofthe breechbolt. i

lVhen operatingautomatically, the breechbolt is never positively locked, although it has a locking-brace, as will be explained.

The bolt l extends well back in the guideway 2 and has, preferably, a knuckle 3 at its rear end, with which knuckle the end of a toggle-lever engages. Other forms of jointed connection may be used for the purpose of connecting the lever to the bolt.

The toggle-lever shown in Fig. l consists vof two members--a link 4 and a bell-crank consisting of two arms 5 and 6, pivoted to the supporting-pin 7 in the stock.

Thearm 6 of the bell-crank lever is forced back by a strong spring 8,which bears against an abutment 9 in the stock and also against a connecting-piece l0, which bears against the lever. The connecting-piece 10 has a forward extension 1l, which enters inside the coiled spring 8.

It is not essential that the details of construction of the spring and its bearing on the lever 6 be precisely as shown. Any equivalent form of spring will effect the same resuit.

As seen in Fig. l, the backward pressure of the spring 8 on the lever will force the links 4 and 5, forming the toggle, into almost a straight line. In this position the recoil of the bolt rearwardly (as under the shock of tiring)meets a great resistance from the spring and the toggle-joint; but if the backward pressure be suicient to overcome the spring and iiex the joint by which the link et and lever 5 are connected the lever-arm 5 soon acts to a greater advantage as respects the lever-arm and the spring 8 is more easily compressed as the bolt moves back in its housing.

The angle of the toggle-joint may be adjusted, as by setting in the abutment-wedge 13 more or less. This wedge bears against the lever 6 in opposition to the spring 8. Vhen light cartridges are used, the wedge 13 may be moved to press in the lever 6 toa greater extent, so as to flex the joint at d and permit ICO the bolt to act on the spring at greater advan-l tage of leverage. Of course other mechanisms than a wedge may be used as anahutment. A screw, which I considerpreferable, is shown in Fig. 7.

As soon as pressure is removed from the front of the bolt. the spring 8 expands, rocks the belhcrank lever, straightens the togglejoint'at d, and forces the holt to closed posi tion. It there be a cartridge in the propel' position, it is carried forward into its chamber in the barrel and is ready for firing when the breech `is closed.

Any usual tiring mechanism may be used. I have shown a. firing-pin l5 in the bolt, a hammer lli, pivotcd in the frame, and a scar 17 and trigger 18 in the frame or stock, and all operating in the usual manner. 'lhe ham mer is cocked by the bolt in its backward movement, as in many other breech-loading guns.

The automatic mechanism for closing the breech may be entirely disconnected, so that noautematic action takes pla-ce The thumbpieceZO, Fig. l, projects outside the stock, (the stock being broken away in Fig. l to show the pin.) A lever 2l, rigid with the thumb piece or its shaft, has a hook 2:2. When the thumbpiece is turned upward and forward,

the hook 2:2 is turned backward and engagesY apinorshoulderonthelinki. Thethumbpiece 2O serves as a lever, and when turned forward the parts described carryY the link :L backward until itis disengaged from the open knuckle 3, when the front end ol' the link 4 is lifted up out of the way of the movement of the bolt. I

The piece 20 may have a spring-catch '25 to engage an abutment on the stock and hold itV in either of its positions. XVhen the link i is disconnected from the bolt, the spring S will naturally be compressed to some extent.

dien the automatic mechanism for closing the breech is disengaged, as last-above described, the breech mechanism may' be operated by hand by the followingdescribed means. Y

The bolt l has a locking-brace 30, which is pivotally connected to and moves with the bolt. This brace is pressed down by a spring 3l, so that it lies in a recess in the bolt'andr f only locks the bolt when the bolt is closed,

Y the rear permits the locking-brace to find its bearing directly in rear of the center of the face of the bolt, so that the recoil has no tendency to move the brace 'up or down and the resistance is in the direct line of pressure.V

A slide-piece 32 lies in a curved v recess 2) in the bolt and has an inclined face 33 at its front end. The slide-piece 33 may be moved independently of the bolt, and by pressing the slide forward the incline 253 engages an incline 3i on the locking-brace and so turns the brace on its pivot, bringing the swinging end in front of the abutment f;- in the frame and at;

the same time compressing the spring 3l.

The locking-brace has a hook with an inclined inner face. The slide-piece 32 has a corresponding hook 36. piece is drawn toward the butt of the gun, the incline 33 will permit the locking-brace to bek thrown down hyitsspring to unlock the brace. Evcnrif` the spring fails to work the point of the hook 'on the slide, enteringVv above the point ot' hook 35 on the brace, will force the brace down into its recess'in the bolt and thus unlock the bolt. AV further backward pull on the slide-piece will draw back the bolt by means ot' the engagement of 'hen the` slide- Y the hook on the slide with the hookon the locking-brace.

housing 2, it cannot swing outward from 1ts recess. The slide 32 may be moved longitudinally bv connection with the handle 40.

XVhen the brace is in the The handle -ltl is shown in Figs. l, Q, and i Y as a sleeve nearlysurrounding the small of the stock and guided 'for longitudinal reciprocation on the stock by a tongue f, entering a groove r/ in thestoek, as usual inguns of this character. small of the stock will correspond to'that of thebolthousing- 'lhe handle 4t) has a catch Preferably the'curve of the 41, which is shown in Fig. pivoted in the handle.

This catch has a hook .lf2 at one end,`

which can enter a notch 425 in the slide 3i.V

The catch 4l can he turned on its pivotso'as'.

to engage the slide or not. Vhen in engage- .ment with the slide, the reeiprocation ofthe handle to will open and close the breech, as usual with gunsof this character. The catch 4l engages the operating-rod 32 through a` slot in the housingof the bolt. Said slot may be covered by the. slide 40, which lis `carried by the handle l0.

lt is presumable that the breech will only need to be opened by the handle when Vthe automatic mechanism is'disconnected, butr the breech may be worked by hand when the IOO IOSY Y automatic mechanism is engaged, in which case the hand must overcome the force of the spring 8.

When the catch 41 is turned out of engagement with the slidel 3:?, its broad end lMis carried into a recesset inthe stock or hous-VV ing. This locks the handle, so that it cannot IIS 'lhe catch il will be held by friction or a` Y suitable fast-euingin positions. f

I have described a particular form of hand Y operating mechanism to cooperate with the `automatic mechanism, butitis apparent that other hand operating mechanism might'ber either of its'engagingV the equivalent lor the purpose oi such cooperation.

In Fig. 7 a detail is shown in which the bellerank lever t5 is hung on the pivot and is pressed by the spring S, as has been described. 'lhc front arm 5 of said bellcrank lever t3 connects directly with the rear.

end 3ot` the bolt by mcansof a roller orabutment et, working in a cross-slot or camway in the end of the bolt. 'lhe slot maybe of such form as to require a grcatcror less force pressing rearwardly on the bolt extension il to rock the bell-crank lever. i

The stock will ot' course be made in scetions or hollow at the breech portion, and the frame and boat housing will be screwed together, as shown, or connected in any convenient and suitable manner.

'lhe magazine is shown in longitudinal section in Fig. l and in rear elevation with ret'- erence to the cartridges in the section Fig. 3.

rlhe magazine consists of a flexible belt, of metal, fabric, or other suitable material 50, having clasps 5l on one face. lThese -clasps l'are of suitable thin elastic metal secured to the belt 5() by pins, rivets, orin other-suitable manner. The clasps 5l are made to extend slight-ly more than `half-way round the cartridges and are in ciiect segments of hollow cylinders with the ends rounded or beveled, so that the closed side of the clasp next the belt is the longest. i

The magazine-belt may be of any convenient length proportioned to the gun. One end of the belt is stiffened byaspindle 5b, and the belt, with the clasps filled with cartridges, wound up on said spindle to form the rolled magazine of cartridges.

The gun has a xed front shield 54, nearly in the form of a disk, and a fixed rear shield 55 of similar form. These plates orshields form the front and rea-r walls of the magazine, and the frame is open at the sides between these shields. The cartridges in the magazine are conned against endwise movement 'by these shields.

In the center of each shield or magazineplate there is a springpressed pin 56, (see Fig. 9,) and when the magazine of cartridges is applied vto the gun these spring-pins ti'enter recesses at the ends of the spindle 53. Mechanism might be supplied for withdrawing one of the pins, but this will generally bev unnecessary, as the magazine may be pressed sidewise into position between the shields I* of the belt is supplied with c lips or catches at approximately equal distances apart, the

distance being that which the. feeder will move the cartridge-belt.

\\'hcn the rolled magazine isinplacein the gun, as in Figs. l and 3, the free end of the belt vextends across the frame just under the bolt and over a bridge 59, which is parallel with the bolt. This bridge has teeth on its upper face to hold t-hc magazine-belt from moving backward.

A lever (50 (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and in diagram, Fig. (3) is pivotcd inthe frame on a vertical pivot (5l alongside the bolt. .This lever has a projection U2 on the side toward the bolt, which projection inclines in both directions. The bolt has a groove in one side or is ilatted away, leaving the projections G3 and (Si, one in frontand the other in rear of the projection (52 ont-hc feed-lever.

The feed-lever 00 has a foot GG, which is provided with teeth preferably beveled in one direction and having straight faces in the other direction. These teeth bite into the surface of the magazine-belt, and when the free end of the lever is swung out the teeth carry the belt along, but in returning the teeth ride over the belt, like the feeding-foot of a sewing-inacl1ine- The elasticity of the lever G0 permits a slight yield forthe purpose.

'hen the bolt l is drawn quickly backward from the position in Fig. 2 tothat shown in diagram in Fig. G, the projection G3 on the i bolt engaging the incline 02 on the feed-lever swings the lever quickly outward, moving the magazine-belt with itand unwinding the belt from the roll. The rear end of the lever swings in toward the bolt, and on closing the bolt its inclined projection 64 strikes the rear end of the lever and by its wedging action swings the lever back to a position parallel with the bolt, the magazine-belt being held from backward movement by the teeth on the bridge 50.

The side or unwinding movement of the magazine-belt when the breech is open brings a cartridge in front of the bolt. The forward movement of the bolt takes a cartridge from the clasp in front oiit and forces the cartridge into the barrel, the clasp being opened by the passage of the flange and bolt as the bolt moves forward to insert the cartridge in the barrel. The elastic clasp is spread or latted out more or less according to the size of the cartridge-flange or of the bolt. The flange or bolt pressing on the inclined end of the clasp causes the clasp to spread, so that as the bolt moves lengthwise of the clasp the bridge 59 supports the magazine-strip and the cartridge-harige or bolt spreads the clasp and lets the cartridge move forward into the barrel. The reverse movement or opening of the bolt brings the empty shell back into or in line with the clasp on the strip.

'As the cartridges are taken from the belt the empty portion of the belt.hangs down below the gun. Vhen the magazine-belt is empty, the belt may be removed from the gun IOO IIO

land elastic enough, the clasp may close round the empty shell as it is extracted, and thus retain the empty shells on the cartridge-belt,

in whichcase no other ejector is needed.

The hammer is cocked by the backward movement of the bolt, .as in other gunsv of thisv class. When the hammer is full-cocked, it may be prevented from falling by a safetycatch 70,' which is pivoted in the bolt With a finger-piece 7l, exposed through an opening in the frame, and a cam or other face 7 2 in position to swing over the hammer and keep it from falling. If the face 72 is a cam or incline, it Will press the hammer back a little e beyond its full-cocked position. The top'rof the frame may have a mark, as at S, which will be exposed when the hammer is safely locked, and otherwise will be covered-by the finger-piece 7l.

The clasping mechanism by which the i magazine-belt is held at its inner end, so as to unwind, is capable of considerable modication. The catches by which it is held may be in the ends of the spindle and a number of sockets maybe made in the shields or frame, so as to receive the clasps of a large magazine roll in a lower socket or a smallone in an upper socket.

While I have described the new parts of a complete gun and have illustrated but few of the modiiications therein which I have devised, it will be understood that I do not in general limit myself to the precise construction illustrated, as I intend the claims to cover many other species in-so far as the invention is generic. i l

It will be understood that parts of the gun necessary to make an operative device (not herein described) may be ofany usual construction.

2. In a magazine-gun of the character de-A scribed, the frame barrel, and reciprocating bolt, said frame" aving a fixed bridge in proximity to. the bolt, a iiexible magazinestrip and flexible clasps thereon, and means for passing the magazine-strip across the bridge in position for the bolt to pass lengthwise of the clasp and move the cartridge therefrom directly into the barrel, all combined lsubstantially as described.

3. In a magazine-gun, the frame having a fixed bridge as described, the bolt reciprocating in proximity to said bridge, the iiexibleA across said bridge, said strip having flexible clasps with inclined rear'ends against which the cartridge-flange or bolt-head acts to eX- pand the clasps When pushed directlyV forward, all combined and relatively arranged substantially as described.

4. In a recoil-operated breechvloading gun, the barrel and frame, the breech-bolt and a bell-crank lever connected thereto, and a spring bearing on the bell-crank lever to close ythe breech-bolt, in combination substantially as described.

5. In a recoil-operated breech-loading gun, the frame and barrel, the reciprocating breech-bolt, a bell-crank lever hung in rear of the bolt and connected thereto by a link, and the spring acting on one arm of the bellcrank lever in opposition to the rearward movement of the breech-bolt, all combined substantially as described.

6. In a recoil-operated breech-loading gun, the frame, barrel, and breech-piece, a lever connected to the breech-piece and aspring offering resistance to the movement of the lever to resist the opening of the breech-piece, and an adjustable abutment by which the initial position of the lever may be regulated, all combined substantially as described.

7. In a'recoil-operated breech-loading gun,

the frame and suitable operative connections,

niagazine-strip and means for moving it loo for regulating the initial position of the arms f tially as described.

8. The frame and con nectionsthe reciprolever, and a detachingpiece extending outside the frame and in position to force the lever connections out of operative engage` ment with the bolt, allin combination.

10. .The frame and operative connections,

' of the bell-crank lever, all combined substan- IIO the reciprocating bolt, bell-crank lever and Y spring, the link connecting `the bell-crank lever and spring by a knuckle-bearing, and the handle suitably supported and having a hook in position to lift the link from engagement With the bolt as .the 'handle is moved,` all combined substantially as described.

l1. The combination with the e frame',

breech-bolt, and operative connections, of the recoil-operated devices for opening and closing the breech, and a hand-operated breechcontrollingmechanism, capable of connection to or disconnection from the breech-closing piece, all combined.

12. In a gun, the barrel, frame, and reciprocating breech-piece, the recoiloperated mechanism substantially as described by which the breech may be opened and closed,

the hand mechanism outside the stock fory operating the breech-piece, and means extending outside the stock for disengaging the hand mechanism from the breech-piece, all combined.

13. The frame and operative connections, the breech-piece reciprocating about length- Wise of the frame in opening and closing, the handle supported on the frame to reciprocate about lengthwise thereof, and the catch connected to the handle, and movable into position to engage with the breech-moving meehanism While unlocking the handle or to release said mechanism when locking the handle, all in combination.

14. The frame, bolt, and operative connections, the locking-brace in the bolt provided with a h ook having inclined face, the slidepiece having a hook in position to engage the hook of the locking-brace, and the handle on the frame having a catch in position to engage with the slide or to be disengaged therefrom, all in combination.

l5. The frame, bolt, and operative connections, the locking-brace engaging the bolt,

and the spring acting normally to unlock said brace, combined with an operatinghandle and mechanism in position to engage the brace and overcome the spring when desirable, all combined substantially as described. 16. An open-sided gun-frame, suitable breech and operating mechanism carried by said frame, `and a cartridge-magazine consisting of a flexible strip wound on a spindle, and insertible into'said frame in position for the exterior cartridge on the strip to be engaged by the breech-piece, and a spring-catch for holding'said magazine-strip in place, all

combined substantially as described.

17. In a magazine-gun, the combination With the frame and longitudinally-reciprocating breech-bolt, of the flexible belt and means for moving the same, said belt having flexible clasps with the rear ends inclined to such extent that the cartridge-flanges can be forced directly forward, thus flexing and exyreccptacle in its frame, open at both sides,

and in rear and partly in line with the barrel, a coiled magazine of exible material having clasps for the attachment of cartridges, and means for retaining said coiled magazine in said receptacle, and a vibrating piece operated by the breech mechanism to uncoil the flexible magazine, by the operation of the breech-piece, all combined substantially as described. I

19. The flexible magazine-belt having cartridge-clasps, the bridge having teeth over which said belt passes, the feed-lever having teeth engaging the opposite face of the magazine-belt, and the bolt operating on said lever to swing it as the bolt opens, combined with the frame and operative connections substantially as described.

20. The combination of the frame and operative connections, the flexible magazine-belt, the lever pivoted on a vertical pivot and havin g teeth engaging said belt, said lever having a projection at the side toward the bolt, and the bolt having side projections at front and rear of the projection on the lever, to engage said lever, substantially as described.

2l. The frame and operative connections, the hammer hung in the frame, the bolt reciprocating over the hammer to cock the same by its backward movement, and the safetycatch lever pivoted in the bolt, having an operating-piece in line with an opening in the housing When the bolt is closed, and a surface at its lower part which may be turned over the hammer in its cocked position, all combined substantially as described.

The frame having a curved boltway and recess tangential thereto, the curved bolt, and the locking-brace extending tan gentially to the body of the bolt, and having its locking-face when in locked position directly in rear of the face of the/bolt and at one side of the body thereof, all combined in a gun, substantially as described.

lIn testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ANDREIV BURGESS Vitnesses: f

W. A. BARTLETT, D. M. BARTLETT.

IOO 

